Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)

by Chloe Walsh

“Are you trying to steal my thunder, Shannon like the river?”

“I wanted you to stay with me.” My heart skipped a beat. “You did?” “I always want you to stay with me,

A pained groan tore from his throat. “Yeah, I care.” He leaned closer. “I care so fucking much I can hardly breathe.”

I knew this. Aside from Joey, Johnny Kavanagh was the only other person I did trust. It was with this knowledge that I slowly pulled my aching body into a sitting position.

“I’ll always be careful with you, Shannon like the river.” Exhaling a shaky breath, he tucked my hair behind my ears and cupped my face in his hands. “I promise.” “I’ll be careful with you, too,” I told him, trembling from head to toe.

“Well, you asked me earlier if there was a chance I’d ever forgive you?” Swallowing, I clutched the edge of the mattress, looked my mother dead in the eyes and whispered, “Drive him away and the answer will be never again.”

“I let her down. I’m just one more on a long list of people who let her down.”

Be okay, I mentally prayed. Please be okay, Shannon like the river.

This was personal for me—she was personal for me—and being kept in the dark was driving me insane.

“Hi, Johnny,” she whispered, tumbling off the door step as she clung to me. “You came back.”

“Do you still want to come with me?” he asked, standing so close to me that I could feel the heat emanating from his body. “It’s okay if you don’t. I’m just happy that I got to see you.” Nodding, I turned to look up at him. “That’s the one thing I am sure of.”

“Come on, Shannon like the river.”

“I’ve spent days waiting for this,” he quickly hurried on, his words coming fast, his accent thickening as he spoke. “To get time with you. To just be with you, and now I have you here?” His hand snaked out and entwined with mine. “Where I know you’re safe? All I want to do is just…” Shaking his head, he pulled me closer. “Keep you right here with me and never give you back.”

“You’re one hell of a mother, Joey the hurler.”

“I want you here,” he told me, never taking his eyes off mine. “I want you to stay with me.”

“Keep that pretty head of yours up, Shannon like the river.”

Shannon Lynch?” I called out, ignoring the rest of her fucked-up family. “I love you back.” Sniffling, she lifted her chin from Joey’s chest and looked at me all red-eyed and blotchy. “S-still?” “Still.” I nodded in confirmation. “Like, a crazy fucking amount.”

A crazy fucking amount. X

I’m not going anywhere. And I meant it. I promise. X Just text me when you wake up, let me know you’re okay. X I miss you. X Can you call me? Can I call you? Are you free to talk? X

“Boom, boom, fucking boom, buddy!”

Gibsie shrugged. “Sometimes you have to be a bad bastard when you’re dealing with a bad bitch.”

“Shannon like the river, come back here!”

I was a virgin, but that didn’t mean I was clueless about sex. I’d read enough books, watched enough movies, and listened to enough stories to know all about the male body and orgasms.

“I just want to be what you want.”

“That from the very first day you walked into my life, you changed me. That very first time I saw you? You sparked to life something inside of me.” Releasing a heavy sigh, he shrugged again, eyes locked on mine. “And I haven’t been the same since.”

He nodded slowly as a small smile crept across his face. “Boom.” I blew out a shaky breath. “Boom.”

“I want to stick with that. I want to stick with you.”

He’s coming home—just you wait and see. Somebody is going to die in this house. Sooner or later… I didn’t close an eye that night.

“I don’t want to feel this way anymore,” she told me, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand. “I don’t want this version of life. I don’t want to be this version of me.”

I hoped she never left me, because I was never going to get over this girl.

She was all I had right now—the only person I could trust not to judge me for not being on form. I couldn’t do this with the lads. I would be too embarrassed. But it was different with Shannon. Everything was different when it came to her.

“I’m here for Johnny the boy,” I told him, cupping his face with my trembling hands. “Not Johnny the rugby player.” Exhaling a shaky breath, I leaned closer and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth before pulling back to look in his eyes. “I’ll stay for both, but I’m only in love with one.”

“I can’t mess this up, Shan. I need this.” Exhaling a ragged breath, he pressed his forehead to mine. “I meant it when I said I need you for keeps.” “You remember saying that?” He nodded slowly. “I remember.” The air left my lungs in a sudden rush. “Good.” “I’m going to keep you,” he whispered and his hot breath fanned my face. “If that’s okay?” “That’s definitely okay,” I breathed, pressing my hand to his cheek. “I want you to keep me.”

“Well, I don’t want easy. I want you,” he cut me off by saying. “Just the way you are.” My breath hitched in my throat. “Really?” “Really,” he confirmed, not missing a beat. “Every part and every piece.” I grimaced. “Even the broken parts?” He winked. “Especially the broken parts.”

“You look so fucking beautiful.” You said that already, lad. “Seriously, you’re gorgeous.” Shut up, Johnny. “Uh, thanks.” Under the streetlamps, I could see the blush on her cheeks. “It’s the clothes and makeup.” “It’s the girl,” I corrected, giving her hand a squeeze.

“Here’s how this is going to work,” he hissed, releasing his grip on my father’s shirt. “You’re going to get back in your car and drive far away. You’re going to uphold the barring order and you’re going to leave her alone. You’re going to stay far away from your daughter’s house and you’re going to continue ignoring her, and I’m going to continue fixing the holes you’ve put in her. And if you ever touch her again, I’ll know about it. One fucking bruise, I’ll see it and I’ll know who put it there,” he snarled, chest heaving. “And then I’ll come for you, and when I do, God himself won’t save you.”

JAW OPEN

“Hi, Shannon,” he whispered, eyes open now and locked on mine. “Hi, Johnny,” I said softly, shivering from the physical contact. “Can’t sleep?” I shook my head. “Scared?” I nodded, unable to speak now. His hand tightened around mine. “I’ll keep you safe.”

“I love you, Johnny Kavanagh,” I choked out, clenching my eyes shut as I grabbed his arm and held it to my chest. “Most in the world.” “I love you back, Shannon Lynch,” he said quietly in my ear and I felt the connection I had to him in the deepest part of my soul. “Most in the world.” “For keeps?” I breathed. He kissed my shoulder. “For keeps.”

CRYING

“Hey,” Gibsie interjected then, winking at Tadhg. “Don’t you be eating all that cake, fatty. I want some.” Tadhg snorted. “You look like you’ve had enough cake for a month.” “I’ll have you know that it takes hours in the gym to look as good as I do,” Gibsie shot back, joining them at the opposite side of the counter, taking the stool next to my father.

“Shannon like the river,” he purred, hopping down to his feet. Gesturing to his body, he winked. “I’m here for your inspection.”

I didn’t want dinner unless he was on the menu.

“Je veux lécher la chatte de ma copine.” I frowned. “What?” Johnny grinned devilishly. “I said, je veux être à l’intérieur de toi.”

“I smell like fish,” I warned him. “You’ll get it on your clothes, too.” “I don’t care,” he whispered, dropping a kiss to my hair. “I love fish, I love you, and I still want to eat you for dinner.”

“Are you trying to tell me that I’m adopted?” Dad threw his head back and laughed. “No, Johnny, you’re one hundred percent the fruit of my loins.”

“I’d do anything for you, Shannon like the river,” Johnny replied gruffly, pulling me in to his side. “Anything.”

I wanted to stand in front of this girl and shield her from all the horror she was exposed to. It wasn’t right, dammit, and I felt like I was drowning in the unfairness of her life. If I could lay her cuts and bruises over my skin, I would.

“Just close your eyes.” I felt his lips against my hair. “I’ll be here watching over you.”

“I’d throw the whole world away to keep you—them included—and I’m not sorry for it.”

“Mammy’s in heaven,”

“It must be sturdy,” Tadhg mused, casting a sideways glance at Gibsie. “To hold your weight.”